The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-27


VIII Proceed To-Day Usual.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 26.-The executive board
of the employees of the Reading road were in
session all day and evening. Telegraphc re-
ports from Shamokiu. Pottsyille, Mahanoy City,
Williamsport, Tarnaqua and other places were
4 read, saying the men were still firm in their in
tention TO hold out Yardmaster Keim received
dispatch from the shop employees OF the COM
pany at Reading, which read as follows
- meeting of <. of L. held here this
afternoon. and the men decided to remain at
WORK. committee was appointed to go to
Port Richmond on No 4, due at Philadelphia at
o'clock. and endeavor to get the men to re-
sumo work tomorrow.
The members of the board did not seem to re-
gard the message, when shown it. beirg of
much importance. Said member Lee
1T makes but little difference whether the
shop mer go out or not. They can in no @way
materially affect the issue. A general order for
the men to cease work VIII be sent out to-mor
row, doubtless The men in the mining regions
have signifed their entire willingness to follow
the action of the employees at Port Richmond.
General Superintendent Sweigerd thought the
mainline mer would not strike. but he has
fourd out differentlv The fight at Port Rich
mond is the fight of the road. At present there
is no perceptibie change in the situation. The
men. If anything, however. are more steadfast.
Some have sent word that they will the
boots their feet before they will give In.
Well, wont surrender till we have to-"
Local Assembly 1907 had big meeting this
afternoon and Endorsed the action of the en-
ployes' convention in ordering the strike
There is no strike on the lines OF this sys-
tenn" said prominent official of the Reading
Company to day; 1--WE discharged five crews and
several other men employed 81 the Port Rich
mond wharves for disobedience OF orders, and
they will never be taken back again long as
the present management of this company con-
IT,
official, "every train that is scheduled will be
moved, and it is not expected that the services
of non-union will be required to effect it,
for che indications at present that there will
be liberal response in the morning from the
employees of the company for work, ana the
company takes the liberty to say that those
who desire work will be accom- m dated
< and given protection. If the company Is
compelled to secure any non-union labor,
that labor will be given permanent employment,
and those whose places they take will never be
allowed to again enter the service of this com
pany. The amount of coal in transit is about
26, 600 tons. This will be moved tomorrow.
-Four freight trains were moved on the main line
this forenoon, all manned by Knights of Labor.
In the afternoon another train sent out from
Broad and Callowhill Streets which pretty well
cleared up everything in the way of freight at
that point, and L am just Informed that a shifter
has gone to make up train to clear up all the
freight at Willow street. On the Bethlehem di-
vision three freight trains were handled each way
this morning. all of them manned by
Knights of Labor A freight train
ran over the Chester branch this fore
noon, and last night frsight trains between
Park and Wayne functions. were handled as
usual, and a freight train was made up at Third
and Park streets, the same evening by Knights
of Labor. We give Knights preference in
awarding employment AS far can hear,
outside trains which were scheduled TO to-
day are moving. and with crews who are Knights
oil Labor. except in one instance, and in that
enc the engineer is a non union We do
not believe the detection will extend beyond the
five crews which we discharged for disobedience
Of orders. There are 1900 persons employed
by this corporation, $1,000 of whom in
railroad service, aud the remainder
with the Coal and Iron COMPANY We
have notice that there is any disaffection with
those in the employ of the Coal and Iron Company,
and do not contemplate any, for we certainly ex-
pect them to live to their agreement to
sumo work next year at the scale Of wages pre-
vaing when they were granted advance in
September last They will certainly be gwen
the benefit of any advance that the price of coal
may warrant. Tomorrow morning if the col
Tiers do not resume work. we shall certainly be
verv much surprised. Among the railroad en-
ployes we 10 not believe that there is disaffec-
ton amounting to per cent. of the whole num-
Der. so far as our information goes"
An official of the company when told that,
there was agitation for arbitration or com
promise. said that there was nothing arbitrate
compromise 1.-The only question stake"
he said, sis that tho men have disobeyed or
ders. and they must remain discharged. The
others have got to work and do as they are told
or they won't be allowed to stay where they are
All that the Reading company asks is the right
to run its property. There is no question
of wages involved"
Gloom cverspread Port Richmond to-day. The
general coal-yards were silent and deserted
line Of tf,a
general feeling of desolation pervaded the place.
At the round-house a number OF men congre-
gated. They watched the hundreds of motion
less engines aud cars and talked of nothing but
the strike The Reading road management was
freely criticised. and many declared that nothing
could induce them return to work.